The Jaguars parted ways with veteran running back Justin Forsett on Tuesday, the opening day of free agency.

The Jaguars signed the 28-year-old Forsett last March, hoping he could provide a reliable complement to Maurice Jones-Drew. Those plans never materialized as Forsett suffered a turf toe injury early in training camp. He played in nine games, carrying six times for 31 yards and catching 15 passes for 82 yards before his season ended with a broken foot.

He missed the last five games of the season, playing 99 of 1,056 total offensive snaps.

“He had a skill set and we had a role for him,” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. “Unfortunately, he got hurt early. It was frustrating for him and for us that we didn’t get to see him at his full strength throughout. But I think the world of him and had great conversations with him.”

Forsett was scheduled to make roughly $1.25 million in 2014. The Jaguars will save around $1.1 million by cutting him. Forsett instantly became a free agent. On his Twitter account, he thanked Jacksonville for all the love and support he was shown.

“This gives him some options, letting him go now rather than waiting through training camp,” Bradley said. “I think it’s just doing the right thing for a guy that’s been important for us.”

The Jaguars could have a young running back corps next season, depending on whether Jones-Drew re-signs. Without Jones-Drew, Jordan Todman and Denard Robinson would likely be the top two replacements. The Jaguars are expected to sign a free agent or use one of their 11 draft picks to add some talent in the backfield.

Bradley said Tuesday he didn’t have a feeling on whether Jones-Drew would return but said the team is keeping the option open.

Bryant fills a role

Bradley talked about new addition defensive end Red Bryant for the first time on Tuesday. Bryant is a run-stopping specialist who played under Bradley from 2009-12 when he served as Seattle’s defensive coordinator.

“All the guys that we target through free agency, it’s important that we have a plan,” Bradley said. “That’s why you might not see us go after some guys, because we really can’t define what role they’d have for us. I think that’s important. That’s what Red does. He has a definite role for us when he comes in here.”

Bradley also was encouraged about how the pursuit of Bryant began after Seattle released him. He said it was general manager Dave Caldwell who first brought Bryant up as a target, despite Bradley’s familiarity with him.

“What’s cool about that is Dave brought him to me,” Bradley said. “He said, ‘Hey, Gus, he’s available. I really like what I see on film.’ So, it was a great thing. We reached out. Red was a tremendous leader when I was there in Seattle with a great work ethic.”

Babin could be back

Defensive end Jason Babin voided the final two years of his contract on Monday, but both sides appear open to joining back up.

Babin told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday that re-signing with the Jaguars was his first choice. Bradley stated he would welcome a Babin return.

“We’re very open to it,” Bradley said. “He was productive and did some good things. He brought some leadership to the d-line. All of those things were very positive, so now we just have to wait and see.”

Etc.

The Jaguars did not tender TE Allen Reisner or DT Kyle Love. They are now free agents. … Bradley spoke to the Northside Business Leaders at the Jacksonville zoo on Tuesday. It was the third local speaking engagement Bradley has conducted in the last week after visiting the Mandarin Rotary Club and the San Jose Yacht Club.

Babin and Jones-Drew need new agents if the best thing they can do is re-sign with the team too coward to cut them when they thought they should have been cut.

Caldwell is so yellow that Babin found a way to cut himself, used a loophole in the CBA, he did.

Khan gets failing marks for not having the football sense to trade Maurice when he held out a few years back. Instead of finding a new home and receiving a pick or picks in return, Khan kept the unhappy camper and even alienated him further by publicly humiliating him with his train remarks.

One team showing "serious interest" in Jones-Drew is the New York Jets, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
It's a sensible fit for both sides, as the Jets are reportedly intent on returning to Rex Ryan's "ground 'n' pound" roots. A litany of injuries have limited returning starter Chris Ivory to an average of less than 10 games per season. Bilal Powell is ideally suited to a backup role, and Mike Goodson is returning from ACL surgery. Even though MJD averaged just 3.4 yards per carry on a talent-starved Jaguars squad, Jones-Drew was a bear to tackle down the stretch last season. He would add stability to a Jets backfield with more questions than answers.
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You write in this article:
"Bradley said Tuesday he didn’t have a feeling on whether Jones-Drew would return but said the team is keeping the option open."

Had the Jags wanted MJD they only needed to extend an offer, but a half hearted offer, not unlike the effort to get TT from Denver, would be detrimental to DC's facade. If Bradley thinks they are keeping the options open (for a salary drop) for MJD's return, he is nuttier than a snickers bar.